Local News in Brief : Review Ordered Over CRA Charges

Responding to a report that the Community Redevelopment Agency may have “grossly inflated” figures on how much housing it has provided for low-income families, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley on Wednesday ordered a CRA review of the charges within two weeks.

In a letter to CRA Administrator John Tuite, Bradley said: “While I know the agency has an excellent record in housing, apparent inattention to program accounting has brought that record into question.

“This is unnecessary and unfortunate.”

The Legal Aid Foundation reported Tuesday that the CRA has included homeless shelter cots and men-only rehabilitation centers in its inventory of 12,500 “family housing” units.

In addition, according to the Legal Aid study, the CRA had counted single-room occupancy hotels that bar families in the “family housing” category. The study also said CRA had built or restored only 744 family units in the downtown area, not the 3,429 reported by the redevelopment agency. CRA officials defended their figures on Tuesday, but a spokesman said in reply to Bradley’s directive, “We will comply with the mayor’s request and it will clear up any misinformation that exists on our housing record.”